AUDREY GRANT'S BETTER BRIDGE MAGAZINE Vol 20 No 6 | Page 6

MASTER SOLVERS’ CLUB A FEATURE FROM THE BRIDGE WORLD Both sides are vulnerable. You’re the dealer and Pass. West, on your left, opens 1♠. Partner overcalls 2♣. East, on your right, responds 2♠ and the auction is back to you.  1♠ 2♣ n w e s 2♠ ♠ A 10 7 3 ♥ K 10 2 ♦ J 9 8 3 2 ♣ Q PASS ? COVER THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE WHEN CHOOSING YOUR CALL. THEN COMPARE YOUR DECISION WITH THE EXPERTS. Jeff Rubens, Director of this Master Solvers’ Club wrote: If there is a good action here, I can’t find it. Many panelists picked the least-disliked call. Even my usual fallbacks don’t seem to help. For example, the slogan, ‘when in doubt, raise’ doesn’t seem practical when it requires raising immediately with only the singleton ♣Q. Interestingly there were experts who actually did raise to 3♣. Let’s consider some of the reasons for this bid. Bart Bramley: 3♣. Hoping to push them up. Double is for those who like to watch partner play in a threethree heart fit. John Swanson: 3♣. Defending against 2♠ is not to be considered, and a venture into no-trump is unappealing with a likely four spade losers. The most popular choice was pass. It’s said that in the modern approach, bridge is a bidder’s game so it will be interesting to see why these experts decided to pass after partner made a vulnerable overcall at the two level. Ralph Katz: Pass. If partner can’t reopen, it might be worth a lot of matchpoints to get a plus against 2♠ or not to go minus 200 if we get into the auction and go down. Phillip Alder: Pass. I considered 2NT but was dissuaded by the inflexible singleton ♣Q. Billy Eisenberg: Pass. We might get a plus score for defeating 2♠ and I 4 VUL: BOTH DLR: SOUTH don’t want to convert it to a minus by going down in a contract. Raising partner’s clubs with the singleton ♣Q is a tough decision. Passing with 10 high-card points and a distribution point for the fifth diamond after partner overcalls could also not be the best call. The hand isn’t balanced, but it’s almost balanced. If a diamond was a club, one change, it would be balanced. 2NT was the second most popular choice. Here’s the rationale. Danny Kleinman: 2NT. A filler, a stopper-and-a-half, and some bits and pieces on the side: What more do I need to seek the most likely game? Eric Kokish: 2NT. The ♣Q could be huge—-or not. North can retreat to 3♣, which I’ll be happy to pass. David Berkowitz: 2NT. Giving full weight, and then some to the ♣Q, but secretly hoping partner bids something. Too much strength to pass. Fleisher & Friesner: 2NT. If partner has a minimum in high cards, at this vulnerability he will almost certainly have six decent clubs and will retreat to 3♣, which rates to make. With extras or a potentially running club suit, North will raise to 3NT, which will be a good contract a significant part of the time, sometimes on overall power, sometimes with nine running tricks. A double would suggest four AUDREY GRANT’S BETTER BRIDGE JULY / AUGUST 2016 hearts; a raise will miss a very good 3NT far too often. Some panelists chose to Double in spite of having only three hearts. Here are their opinions. Boye Brogeland: Double. Normally indicates at least four hearts, but I hope that something good will happen. Harry Steiner: Double. I might lose my gamble if partner bids 3♥ but we might make it. Not 2NT, because the singleton ♣Q might make transportation very difficult, and there is a threat in spades. Too strong to pass. BETTER BRIDGE CONCLUSION Pass. 3♣ is a bit adventuresome with most partners when you only have singleton. 2NT when you know they’re going to attack spades means you have to get your eight tricks right away. Double might get you to a 4-3 or 3-3 heart. The auction isn’t over. Partner could bid again after I pass and I’ll get another chance. pass 2nt 3♣ double = 10 votes = 8 votes = 6 votes = 3 votes to subscribe to the bridge world visit www.bridgeworld.com